Author Archives: Mike

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Kung Fu Panda 3 trailer

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KUNG FU PANDA 3
Animation, in 3D
Release: January 29, 2016, in 3D
Directors: Jennifer Yuh Nelson and Alessandro Carloni
Producer: Melissa Cobb
Cast:  Jack Black, Bryan Cranston, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, J.K. Simmons, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, David Cross, Kate Hudson, James Hong, Randall Duk Kim
SYNOPSIS
In 2016, one of the most successful animated franchises in the world returns with its biggest comedy adventure yet, KUNG FU PANDA 3. When Po’s long-lost panda father suddenly reappears, the reunited duo travels to a secret panda paradise to meet scores of hilarious new panda characters.  But when the supernatural villain Kai begins to sweep across China defeating all the kung fu masters, Po must do the impossible—learn to train a village full of his fun-loving, clumsy brethren to become the ultimate band of Kung Fu Pandas!
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Freak Kitchen- “Freak of the Week” music video

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Ever wonder what it would like like if Disney made a heavy metal music video? Well wonder no more! Granted this wasn’t actually made by Disney as it actually began as a Kickstarter campaign, but it’s every bit as well animated as anything I’ve seen in a VERY long time!

I present for you a music video called Freak of the Week from the Swedish rock band Freak Kitchen directed by Juanjo Guarnido. who was among others lead animator for Sabor on Disney’s Tarzan. Enjoy!

Also here’s the Making of Video about how the music video was created…

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Starburns Industries-Anomalisa trailer

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Starburns Industries (Ricky and Morty) has a Stop Motion feature film due out this year called Anomilisa and while I can’t really tell much of what the film is about, I like the style. I particularly like that they didn’t bother to cover up the seams of the characters faces. What do you think?

Michael Stone, husband, father and respected author of “How May I Help You Help Them?” is a man crippled by the mundanity of his life. On a business trip to Cincinnati, where he’s scheduled to speak at a convention of customer service professionals, he checks into the Fregoli Hotel. There, he is amazed to discover a possible escape from his desperation in the form of an unassuming Akron baked goods sales rep, Lisa, who may or may not be the love of his life. A beautifully tender and absurdly humorous dreamscape, from the brilliant minds of Charlie Kaufman (SYNECDOCHE, NEW YORK) and Duke Johnson (“Community” episode, Abed’s Uncontrollable Christmas), this stop-motion animation wonder features the vocal cast of Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tom Noonan and David Thewlis and a stirring strings-based score by Carter Burwell.

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Deva

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What is your name and your current occupation?
I am Deva, born and brought up in Chennai.India. I completed my art graduation at Chennai Government Collage of Arts and Crafts.

I got married and I have beautiful princes named Prathusha. Having 15 years of experience in animation industry as creative and animation director with both 2D and 3D animation across Asian countries (Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, etc.)

How did you become interested in animation?
It was accident. Well a very interesting accident. When I was a student in Chennai collage of arts and crafts I got a chance to see the movie “Lion king”. In that movie there was a scene where Simbha the cub will cry in front of his father’s dead body “Help me… Anybody… Somebody…” I was moved in to tears, it’s so amazing that an Animator can make audience laugh and cry. Yes art has that capability to bring emotions in to the people mindset and let them go vivid with their imagination. Animation is a structured way for making the audience think what you are thinking or what you want him to think, that’s the power of animation and that has been keeping me moving on all these years.

Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?
I am from Chennai, southern part of India, Animation was not a well heard name those days; it was Mr. Chandrasekhar, Managing Director of Pentafour software & Exports Limited (Pentamedia Graphics) who introduced us to this industry. After graduation I took up my career in Animation with Pentafour.

What is the most difficult part for you about being in the business?
In animation business, most difficult part is you have to deliver the project in Continue reading

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FINAL KIDSCREEN HOT50 RANKINGS ANNOUNCED

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Kidscreen-Hot-50

FINAL KIDSCREEN HOT50 RANKINGS ANNOUNCED!

Netflix, DHX Media, LEGO and Cartoon Network

all secure number-one spots

Toronto, October 28, 2015: Kidscreen is thrilled to announce the results of its Hot50 ranking of 2015’s leading companies in broadcasting, production, distribution, licensing and digital media.

These rankings were determined by vote, with all of Kidscreen’s 15,000+ magazine and newsletter subscribers invited to participate over a three-week period earlier this month. Here are the final results by category:

BROADCASTING

  1.  Netflix
  2. Cartoon Network US
  3. CBeebies
  4. PBS KIDS
  5. Disney Channel
  6. DHX Media
  7. Sprout
  8. KiKa
  9. Super RTL
  10. YTV

 

PRODUCTION

  1. Cartoon Network Studios
  2. 9 Story Media Group
  3. DreamWorks Animation Television
  4. DHX Media
  5. Sinking Ship Entertainment
  6. Animaccord Animation Studio
  7. Amazon Studios
  8. Breakthrough Entertainment
  9. Brown Bag Films
  10. Spin Master Entertainment

 

DISTRIBUTION

  1. DHX Media
  2. CAKE
  3. 9 Story Media Group
  4. Entertainment One (eOne)
  5. Sesame Workshop
  6. Nelvana Enterprises
  7. The Jim Henson Company
  8. PGS Entertainment
  9. Breakthrough Entertainment
  10. Saban Brands

 

LICENSING

  1. The LEGO Group
  2. Entertainment One Family (eOne Family)
  3. DHX Brands
  4. Nelvana Enterprises
  5. Sesame Workshop
  6. Saban Brands
  7. Wicked Cool Toys
  8. Zodiak Kids
  9. Budge Studios
  10. ITV Studios Global Entertainment

 

DIGITAL MEDIA

  1. Cartoon Network Digital
  2. Toca Boca
  3. DHX Media
  4. Sesame Workshop
  5. Hopster
  6. Rovio Entertainment
  7. DreamWorksTV
  8. Maker Studios
  9. Nelvana Digital
  10. National Geographic Kids

 

The top-ranked companies in each category will be formally inducted into the Kidscreen Hot50 Hall of Fame in a celebration to be held during Kidscreen Summit 2016 (February 8-11 • Miami, Florida).

And all of the Hot50 companies will be profiled in a special print issue due out on December 10 that will be mailed to Kidscreen’s full circulation list, plus distributed at NATPE and Kidscreen Summit in the new year.

Kidscreen will also showcase the Hot50 companies on a dedicated microsite for a full year, and then archive this content so it’s still searchable and accessible online.

For further details, please contact:

Janet Balmforth at DDA Blueprint PR

Tel: +44 (0) 208 868 0511 Email: janet@ddablueprint.com

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Microsoft aims to actually make the “Animate Button”

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There are always companies trying to edge out the animator.  Not sure why exactly but it’s clearly something they strive for. Maybe it’s the Lamborghini’s we all drive and the overflowing money stuffed wallets we have ;living large as animators. Oh wait, that’s the CEOs of the companies not us.

From the Polar Express to Tin Tin to the ever increasing use of Mocap, studios see a brighter future free from the chains of us animators. Of course any animator will tell you Mocap only goes so far but that’s another story. Until recently traditional 2d animation has been pretty much impossible to auto complete simply because computers weren’t smart enough to predict what needs to be inbetweened. Anyone who has ever tried Flash’s Shape Tween tool has a clear idea of how well that goes. Well now Wired.com is reporting that Microsoft Research, along with the University of Hong Kong and the University of Tokyo, just unveiled a proof-of-concept technology that could bring back the charm of older, hand-drawn cartoons, with the speed and fluidity of today’s animation software.

From the site:

“Autocomplete hand-drawn animations” debuted at the Siggraph Asia conference, and it’s an interactive system that watches what the artist draws and then predicts what frame or line might come next. It can also smartly connect the dots between two different drawings, and propagate the motion that should occur between the two sketches. This works for color too: fill in the first frame with certain hues, and the system will replicate them.

You can read the entire article here.